The Universal Periodic Review and digital rights protection in Nigeria and South Africa

Abstract

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism of the United Nations that involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States in order to improve them. This Mini-Dissertation explores the impact of the Universal Periodic Review on digital rights protection in South Africa and Nigeria. Digital Rights include freedom of expression online, privacy in the digital age, right to information online, network neutrality, and others. For the purpose of this dissertation, the impacts of the UPR on freedom of expression online and privacy in the digital age were examined. The dissertation identifies roles that various stakeholders must play in order to leverage the UPR optimally for the protection of digital rights in Africa.